Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them... Exodus 18:21

Dear Praying Friends,

There are 18 months until November 6^th, Election Day, 2012. The Presidential election campaigns are underway. President Obama will likely be the unchallenged Democratic candidate. Republican frontrunners will eventually emerge. What should Christians look for in a President or candidate for other public office?

Noah Webster, the "Father of American Education," and other learned men in the founding era pointed to the Bible, and specifically to Exodus 18:21, as their guide (see Noah Webster, Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education, 1823, p.p. 18-19).

The Bible's simple list of qualifications for electing and confirming representative leaders is unrivaled:

1. Capable - Leaders with sufficient skills, experience and judgment to do the job;

2. Fear God - Individuals who know and reverence Him and fear the consequences of ignoring or disobeying His revealed will or eternal moral laws. Those who ignore God and His law are not qualified for public service.

3. Truthful - People who love truth - moral, spiritual, historical and scientific; are devoted to honesty, and demand integrity from their friends, associates and staffs.

4. Hate covetousness - Citizens who respect and demand respect for private property rights by individuals and government (contrast with God's warning of what to expect from an unelected king - 1 Sam 8:6-22).

Like Webster, we must heed and recommend this formula to our fellow citizens.  Our prayers are needed now!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) -- Recently, the President announced that the Justice Department will no longer enforce or defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). On April 13^th, the U.S. Navy directed Navy Chaplains to provide for same sex marriages on military installations in states where such "marriages" are legal and to allow Chaplains to perform such ceremonies. This is a violation of DOMA, which requires that for federal purposes "marriage is the legal union of a man and woman."

On Friday, 62 House members sent a joint letter to the Secretary of the Navy requesting an explanation. Responding to a formal inquiry from Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), the Navy defended their position and added that chaplains who refuse to marry homosexuals must find someone who will. This morning the Navy abruptly reversed its plan, presumably awaiting final certification of the military's readiness to implement the new law.

Today, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) planned to offer an amendment to require "all" members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to agree before final certification for DADT repeal. Other possible amendments include measures to reinforce the traditional definition of marriage in the military and protections for servicemen who conscientiously oppose homosexuality. FRC has asked constituents to contact members of the Armed Services Committee. Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, the highest ranking active duty Army officer to openly criticize plans to overturn DADT, retired May 1, after 35 years of service. In a remarkably candid interview, Mixon said repeal of DADT will cause problems with morale and make the military less ready and able to fight (see Rep. Todd Akin, Letter to Chaplains, 62 House members, Mixon).

• Please pray that DADT will be restored, and that until then, measures will be put in place to protect the religious conscience and physical safety of our men and women in uniform (Acts 24:16; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:5-19; 3:9; 4:12; Heb 10:22; 1 Pet 2:19;  3:16-17). 

March to Overturn ObamaCare Continues -- Yesterday, Liberty University and the Commonwealth of Virginia, argued separate cases against ObamaCare before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. Both called the individual mandate, requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, unconstitutional. After "intense rounds of questioning," reporters predicted the three Democrat appointed judges would likely rule against the plaintiffs. If so, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli told reporters, Virginia will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida Federal District Judge Roger Vinson ruled earlier against the individual mandate in a suit brought jointly by 26 states. An amicus brief by FRC attorney Ken Klukowski persuaded Vinson to declare the entire law void for lack of a severability clause. The ruling is on hold pending appeal.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that a similar plan enacted by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in his state, "grows more ominous by the month." A new survey reveals that fewer than half of primary care physicians are now willing to take new patients, down from 70% before RomneyCare; the average wait for routine checkups is 48 days, and the wait to see a specialist is dramatically longer than a year ago. Massachusetts now faces physician shortages and health insurance premiums are among the nation's highest (Virginia Cases, Massachusetts, Klukowski).

• May God grant favor to the attorneys arguing to stop ObamaCare and guidance to the judges. May he help FRC attorney, Ken Klukowski, as he works to support these cases, and may the American people win a massive victory for freedom! (2 Sam 23:12; Ps 5:11-12; Pr 2:11; 3:3-6. 1 Cor 1:24-25; Gal 5:1; Eph 6:10 ff)

Chick-fil-A -- FRC President Tony Perkins has long warned that the Homosexual Agenda and Religious Liberty cannot coexist. Now homosexual activists are proving his axiom by their persecution of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain. Students at Indiana University, South Bend, have officially complained that their chancellor is violating the school's anti-discrimination policy by allowing sales of Chick-fil-A sandwiches on campus. The much beloved Cathy family, owners of Chick-fil-A, are widely known for their Christian faith, their Sunday store closing to honor the Sabbath, and their generous support for evangelism and other Christian causes. They are being targeted for donating to groups that support traditional marriage. Dan Cathy was recently disinvited from speaking to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, whose spokesman said they had "no idea [he] held such controversial views."  World magazine reports that 20 colleges are "agitating" against Chick-fil-A, including: Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Duke, North Carolina State, Florida Gulf Coast, and others (Indiana University, Many Schools).

• May Chick-fil-A gain far more goodwill than it loses as a result of these organized efforts. May the indecent treatment of such decent, respectable business people be an eye-opener for Americans. May these and future such efforts backfire (Pr 16:7; 22:1; 25:8, 11; Mt 5:11, 44-45; Jn 15:20; Acts 10:1-4; 2 Tim 4:16).

Finally, H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act passed the House, 251-175. See Tom McClusky's wrap-up on H.R. 3 and the states. Our efforts, despite resistance in Washington, are paying off big in the states, Thank you for praying!